you into taking a job that doesn't seem right. It may not
be His time. Or

maybe the vacancy may prove the position is not necessary.
Perhaps the jobneeds to be intentionally neglected so that others
seeand respondto theneed. When such intentional neglect is done in
faithand not as an excusefor side-stepping responsibilitycan be a very
healthy, long term strategyfor building an active ministry in which each one
"does his part" joyfully(Eph. 4:16).

3. To Please People

We are all tempted on occasion to please man instead of
God. But Paul wrotein Galatians 1:10, "Am I now trying to win the
approval of men, or of God?Or am I trying to please men? If I were still trying to
please men, I wouldnot be a servant of Christ."

It's OK to please
yourself in knowing that yougave God your very best in carrying out your ministry for
Him. But workingto please other people is always the wrong reason.Beware of the signs of people-pleasing such as using title
or position toget one's way, pre-occupation with statistics, being afraid
toappropriately confront, working more than stated in the
call, lack ofself-differentiation, passive-aggressiveness, being
overly-direct,self-driven pushiness, worldly expectations, et al.

4. Pride

An ego "in check" can give you a great deal of
positive drive and

motivation. An ego out of control is guaranteed to cause
damage in

relationships and congregational health. Don't volunteer
for ministry in

positions of power and prestige if you know that pride is
an issue for you.

Volunteer for an area of pure service until your heart
finds joy in the

simplicity of service just for Jesus' sake.

Ego Check: If you find it below
you to clean the toilets in the church's

bathrooms, because of your "position" in the
church, resign your position

and pray for a servant's heart. Seek a position in the
church that has no

status.

5. To Earn Salvation

There is nothingnothingyou can do to earn your
salvation. It is of grace,not works. Period! (Ephesians 2:8-10).

"Therefore, my dear brothers, stand
firm. Let nothing [including people-pleasing] move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the
Lord [and no one else],
because you know that [it is only] your labor in the Lord [that] is not in vain." I
Corinthians 15:58 (NIV)

Note: If you haven't read Dan
Reiland's, Shoulder to
Shoulder: Strengthening Your Church By Supporting Your Pastor, (Nashville: Thomas
Nelson Publishers, 1997), be sure to do so. It's a great resource for building a healthy
foundation for pastoral ministry in a congregational setting. I like some of the chapter
headings such as "Championing Your Pastor's Humanity" (yes, we do make mistakes)
and "Ten Keys To Connecting With Your Pastor."

Microsoft
FrontPage and Microsoft Internet Explorer are registered trademarks of
Microsoft Corporation
Adobe Acrobat and PDF are registered trademarks of Adobe Systems
IncorporatedHosted and Developed by SAMSA